Oldtymestockings

Fruits of the Harvest Stockings

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."  John 15:5

Raspberries!  Who can eat just one plump, succulent berry?  What a sweet blessing, indeed!  

Raspberries are grown in temperate regions throughout the world.  Rubus idaeus, or the red raspberry, remains the most popular variety. Raspberry bushes are very prolific.  A single bush can produce several pounds of fruit per year. Weighing only 4 grammes, a single raspberry contains over 100 small, circular druplets! In contrast to blackberries and dewberries, raspberries have hollow cores once removed from the vine.

 

Raspberry plants have many God given benefits. Fresh or dried raspberry leaves are used in herbal and medicinal teas.  The leaves have an astringent flavour and may alleviate sore throats and various stomach ailments. Raspberry tea has been used for centuries to regulate menstruation and enhance delivery during childbirth. Raspberries contain polyphenol antioxidants which are believed to promote cardiovascular health. Xylitol, an alternative sweetener, is extracted from raspberries.

Raspberries are harvested when they come off the vine easily and the fruit turns a deep red, black or purple. At this time, raspberries are at their peak of freshness.